Carton divider for baked products



July 27, 1965 v. J. KOZLOWSKI ETAL 3,197,111

CARTON DIVIDER FOR BAKED PRODUCTS Filed June 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V/cfor J Kaz/ows/ri E /den .1 Grofh YINVENTORS I BY WRM L y 1965 v. J. KOZLOWSKI ETAL. 3,197,111

CARTON DIVIDER FOR BAKED PRODUCTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1962 Victor J K5'z/owski E/a'en J 6/0) 1N VEN TORS United States Patent 3,197,111 CARTON DIVIDER FOR BAKED PRODUCTS Victor 3. Kozlowski, 713 8th Ave. SW., and Elden J. Groth, 708 2nd Ave. SW., both of Pipestone, Minn. Filed .lune 19, 1962, Ser. No. 293,605 11 Claims. (Cl. 229-42) The present invention generally relates to packaging, and more particularly to the provision of a carton divider wherein various perishables such as baked products, can be stacked within a carton in a manner so as to prevent damage to the packaged goods.

it will be appreciated that the necessity of packaging easily crushed baked products has given rise to many different types of dividers as well as various arrangements of the goods. However, many of these previously known dividers, in addition to precluding the maximum utilization of the space within the carton, also require an inconvenient manipulation of either the divider or the goods during their insertion into and removal from the carton.

Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention resides in a provision of an economical means for rapidly packaging a plurality of goods such as baked products within a carton so as to obtain the maximum utilization of the area therein while at the same time positioning the goods for their easy and rapid removal therefrom.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a divider wherein superimposed rows of baked products can be provided without direct contact therebetween.

In conjunction with the above object, it is an object of the present invent-ion to provide a divider means wherein the lower row of goods can be quickly and easily exposed for access thereto.

Likewise, an object of the present invention resides in the provision of divider mean which can be easily collapsed or compressed for storing or shipping purposes.

A final object to be specifically enumerated resides in the provision of superimposed divider partitions which can be rigidly though releasably interlocked.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton having portions broken so as to illustrate the manner in which the divider of the present invention is used to poistion a plurality of products; 7

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the two partitions of the divider;

FEGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the divider comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 4-is a partial cross sectional view illustrating the manner in which the central wall of the lower partit1on is received within the central wall of the upper partition;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a carton having a modified form of divider therein;

FIGURE 6 is a partial exploded perspective view of the two partitions of the modified divider; r

FIGURE '7 is a transverse cross sectional view of th modified divider;

FIGURE 8 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 but illustrating a modified manner of forming the pocket in the upper partition wall; and

FIGURE 9 is a partial bottom perspective view illustrating the locking flap of the modified divider.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates the divider comprising the present invention. This divider 10, made of any suitable material such as paperboard or cardboard, is particularly adaptable for positioning within a conventional carton 12 for the retention therein of two superimposed rows of baked goods 14 in substantially crushproot relation to each other.

The divider 10 consists essentially of a first lower partition 16 and a second upper partition 18, both ofa width and length so as to substantially correspond to the width and length of the interior of a carton 12 in which theyare to be inserted. As will be appreciated, the divider 10 of the present invention can be made in'a wide range of sizes so as to correspond to different size cartons 12.

The first or lower partition 16 includes an upstanding center wall 20 consisting of two juxtaposed vertical sections 22 and 24 formed of a single piece of material folded longitudinally as at 26. l The lower ends of each of the sections 22 and 24 are bent as at 28 and 30 so as to form two outwardly extending panels 32 and "34. As will be noted from the drawings, the center wall 20 is provided with two notches 44 therein therebyresulting in the provision of an upstanding central portion 46 and two reduced end portions 48. The center sections 22 and 24 can, if so desired, be secured together in any suitable manner such as by stapling, stitching or gluing.

The upper or second partition 18 is formed with an upwardly extending center wall 56 consisting of two integrally connected parallel vertical sections 58 and 60 each terminating in outwardly extending panels 62 and 64 which in turn terminate in downwardly extending walls 66 and 68. 7 As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the upstanding wall 56 is provided with a downwardly opening longitudinally extending pocket 70 being of a sufiicient length, width and depth so as to accommodate the upstanding central portion 46 of the center wall 20. It will be appreciated that the usptanding section 46 is to be frictionally engaged within the pocket 70 thereby resulting in a fairly stable connection between the first partition 16 and the superimposed section partition 18. The downwardly extending edge walls 66 and 68 are of subsantially the same height as the reduced end portions 48, with the upstanding section 46 being of substantially the same height as the upstanding center wall 56. As is the case with the wall 29, the wall 56, aside from the area of the pocket 71?, can be stitched, stapled, glued, or secured in any other suitable fashion, however, itis contemplated thatv spacers 72 be provided between the sections 58 and 69 at the ends thereof, these spacers being substantially the same size as the notches 44 so as to form the pocket 70.

With reference to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the panels 62 and 64 are slightly wider than the panels 32 and 34 so as to enable the positioning of the downwardly extending walls 66 and 68 juxtaposed to the outer edge of the outwardly extending panels 32 and 34, thus forrning a stable structure upon insertion into a carton, the lower edges of the walls 66 and 68 being retained between the panel edges and the sides of the carton.

Turning now particularly to FIGURES 5-9, it will be appreciated that the modified form of divider illustrated therein is quite similar to the, divider previously described, and accordingly, like reference numerals have been given to like parts with the descriptive matter applicable to these numeral also applying to the modified form. The major difference between the formof FIGURES 5-9 and the form of FIGURES 1-4 resides in the provision of two upstanding edge walls and 82 provided at the outer edges of the outwardly extending panels 32 and 34 and integrally connected tothese panels along longitudinally extending fold lines. These upwardly extending walls 80 and 82 are of substantially the same height as 'the'reduced end portions 48 and abut against the undersurface of the panels 62 and 64 in juxtaposed relation to the downwardly extending exige walls 66 and 68, the walls 80 andSZbeingretained in position by means of locking tabs 86 formed by a downwardly folding of a portion of the panel 62 and 64 adjacent the downwardly extending edge walls and 68 with the space between theflaps'86 andthe adjoining wall being sufiicient so as'to frictionallyaccommodate the upper edge of the upwardly extending edge-walls 80 and 82 of the lower partition .16.

It will be noted that the spacer 72 has not been illustrated in this form, the pocket 70 merely being provided by an outwardly forming of the unsecured central portion of the center sections 58 and 60. However, if so desired, such spacers can obviously also be used in this modified form of the inventiom From the foregoing, it is considered to be readily apparent that a novel carton divider has been defined which divider is uniquely adapted for insuring the crushproot packaging of various goods,nespecially baked products. It will be appreciated that the-provision of easily disengaged superimposed sections enables the quick removal of the upper partition so asto obtain access to the goods retained in the lower partition; The user of the divider needonlyraise-the upper partition vertically. In connection with this vertical raising of the upper partition,

attention is directed to the fact that this partition can, if r so desired, :be made sufficiently rigid so as to maintain itsshape with the goods superimposed thereon during the lifting of the partition from the carton thereby providing a means for easily removing and handling the goods. The lower partition-can also be formed'in a similar manner. However, while it is contemplated that the present invention include such rigid partitions, it is preferred that these partitions be made so as to enable them to be tolded flat about the-fold lines thereby reducingthe bulk thereof such as would be desirable during their shipping or storage This ability: to easily fold about the fold lines would obviously not reduce the rigidity of either the panels or the walls, especially when the partitions are combined-in the manner set forth in detail in both the drawings and the description supra. Finally, of particular significance is the fact that the upstanding center walls of both the upper and lower partitions interact so as to form a centrally located brace thereby preventing any crushing of the contents of the carton by means of external iqadsapplied thereon such as would be present in the stacking of a plurality of cartons. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes-will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may 'beresorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed asnew is as follows:

-1. A carton divider for baked goods comprising a first partition and a second partition associated therewith,

said first partitionincluding a vertically extending center wall, two oppositely extending panels perpendicular to the center wall and extending outwardly from the lower edge thereof, and two upwardly extending edge walls, one on the outer end of each panel, said edge walls terminating at a point below the upper edge of the center wall, said second partition consisting of a vertically extending center wall of less height than said first center wall, two oppositely extending panels perpendicular to the second center and extending outwardly from the lower edge thereof, and. two downwardly extending edge walls, one on the outer edge of each of said second panels, saidsecond partition being removablymountable in superimposed relation on said first partition.

2. A carton divider for baked goods comprising a first partition and a second partition associated therewith, said first partition including a vertically extending center wall, and two oppositely extending panels perpendicular to and integral with said center well, said second partition including a vertically extending center wall of less height than said first center wall, two oppositely extending panels perpendicular to and integral with said second center wall, and two downwardly extending edge walls, one on the outer edge of each of said second panels, each edge wall being of a height substantially equal to the difference in height between the center walls, said second center wall including a longitudinally extending downwardly opening pocket, said first center wall including a longitudinally extend-ing portion thereof slidably received within said pocket.

3. A carton divider comprising a firstpartition ineluding an elongated upstanding center wall, and two oppositely extending horizontal panels secured to the lower,

edge of the center wall, said center wall including a vertically projecting portion; and a second partition including a second elongated upstanding center wall of a height at least equal to the height of the vertically projecting portion of the first center wall, a longitudinally extending downwardly opening pocket in the second c nter wall, said vertically projecting portion being receivable within said pocket with the upper edge of the first center wall, outward from the vertically projecting portion, abutting the lower edge of the second center wall outward from the pocket, two oppositely extending horizontal panels secured to the lower edge of the second center wall, and two downwardly extend-ing edge panels, one on the outer edge of each of the last mentioned horizontal panels, each edge panel being of a height substantially equal to the height of the first center wall without the vertically projecting portion.

4. A carton divider comprising a first partition including an elongated upstanding center wall, and two oppositely extending horizontal panels secured to the lower edge of the center wall, said center wall including a vertically projecting portion; and a second partition including a second elongated upstanding center wall of a height at least equal to the height of the vertically projecting portion of the first center wall, a longitudinally extending downwardly opening pocket in the second center wall, said vertically projecting portion being receivable within said pocket with the upper edge of the first center wall, outward from the vertically projecting portion, abutting the lower edge of the second center wall outward from the pocket, two oppositely extending horizontal panels secured to the lower edge of the second center wall; and two upwardly extending edge panels, one on the outer edge of each of the first mentioned horizontal panels,

each edge panel being of a height substantially equal to v the height ofthe first center wall without the vertically projecting portion.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said secondrcenter wall is provided with a longitudinally extending downwardly opening pocket, said first Center wall including a longitudinally extending'portion thereof slidably received within said pocket.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said downwardly extending edge walls are of substantially the same vertical height as said upwardly extending edge walls, each downwardly extending wall being positioned juxtaposed the outer side of the corresponding upwardly extending wall.

7. The structure of claim 6 including a downwardly extending flap positioned adjacent the outer end of each panel on said second partition, said flap being spaced from the end thereof a distance substantially equal to the thickness of one of the first upwardly extending edge walls, the upper edge of each upwardly extending edge wall being received between the adjoining flap and down- 8. A carton divider comprising a first partition including an upstanding center wall, two oppositely extending horizontal panels secured thereto, and two upwardly extending edge walls secured to the outer edge of said panels; and a second partition including an upstanding center wall having a downwardly opening pocket therein, said pocket receiving a portion of said first center wall therein, two oppositely extending panels secured to the second center wall and extending substantially parallel to said first panels and slightly beyond the outer edge thereof, two downwardly extending edge walls on the outer edge of said second panels juxtaposed to the outer faces of said upwardly extending edge walls, and flap means extending downwardly from each of said second panels and in engagement with the inner face of each upwardly extending edge wall.

9. The structure of claim 2 wherein the lower ends of said downwardly extending edge walls are positioned against the outer edges of the oppositely extending panels of the first partition,

10. A carton divider for baked goods comprising a first lower partition and a second upper partition associated therewith, said first partition including a vertically extending center wall, said center wall having downwardly stepped reduced end portions and a raised central portion, and two oppositely extending panels perpendicular to the center wall and integral with the lower edge thereof, said second partition including a vertically extending center wall of a height approximately equal to the height of the raised central portion over the reduced end portions, two oppositely extending panels perpendicular to the second partition center wall and integral with the lower edge thereof, and two downwardly extending edge walls, one on the outer edge of each of said second partition panels, said edge walls being of approximately the same height as the reduced end portions, said second partition center wall including a central downwardly open ing pocket therein, said raised central portion being received within said pocket and the lower edge of the second partition center wall, outwardly from the pocket, resting on the reduced end portions, thereby centrally bracing the divider.

11. The structure of claim 10 wherein the lower ends of said downwardly extending edge walls are positioned against the outer edges of the oppositely extending panels of the first partition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 985,870 3/ l1 Westling 22942 1,059,359 4/13 Hahn 22942 X 2,604,983 7/52 Moore 229-42 X 2,640,644 6/53 Hennessey 229-42 2,738,917 3/56 Mader 229-42 2,764,285 9/56 Prossen 229-42 X FOREIGN PATENTS 855,06 1 11/60 Great Britain.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARTON DIVIDER FOR BAKED GOODS COMPRISING A FIRST PARTITION AND A SECOND PARTITION ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, SAID FIRST PARTITION INCLUDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING CENTER WALL, TWO OPPOSITELY EXTENDING PANELS PERPENDICULAR TO THE CENTER WALL AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF, AND TWO UPWARDLY EXTENDING EDGE WALLS, ONE ON THE OUTER END OF EACH PANEL, SAID EDGE WALLS TERMINATING AT A POINT BELOW THE UPPER EDGE OF THE CENTER WALL, SAID SECOND PARTITION CONSISTING OF A VERTICALLY EXTENDING CENTER WALL OF LESSL HEIGHT THAN SAID FIRST CENTER WALL, TWO OPPOSITELY EXTENDING PANELS PERPENDICULAR TO THE SECOND CENTER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF, AND TWO DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING EDGE WALLS, ONE ON THE OUTER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID SECOND PANELS, SAID SECOND PARTITION BEING REMOVABLY MOUNTABLE IN SUPERIMPOSED RELATION ON SAID FIRST PARTITION. 